For many double stranded (ds) DNA viruses the viral genome is actively packaged into the virus capsid by a powerful molecular motor. This results in an energetically unfavorable state of the packaged genome, creating tens of atmospheres internal pressure inside the virion. Using a new calorimetric assay to determine the activation energy barriers associated with genome loss in response to elevate

https://www.virus-biophysics.lu.se/covers-movies-and-highlights - 2025-07-05

ALEX EVILEVITCH RESEARCH GROUP We are always interested in reviewing applications from MSc students, prospective PhD students and postdocs.   Project description    Herpesviruses are a leading cause of human viral disease. Herpesviruses consist of a double-stranded DNA genome contained within a protein shell, termed the capsid, that is surrounded by an unstructured protein layer and a lipid-envelo

https://www.virus-biophysics.lu.se/open-positions-0 - 2025-07-05

Virus Biophysics Virus Biophysics is a rather new field that seeks to define the physical mechanisms controlling virus development. This knowledge can provide information essential to the rational design of new antiviral strategies with less specificity for a limited number of viruses. Furthermore, biological and physical simplicity relative to other biological systems have made viruses an attract

https://www.virus-biophysics.lu.se/research-overview - 2025-07-05

News and Events January 9, 2024 , Physics World "Viruses change structure at the temperature of the human body to better infect us". If you want to know in simple words a possible mechanism of viral genome delivery, read more in this link (it opens a new webpage).November 8, 2023,  Lund University press release on our pioneering study published in PNAS showing how temperature triggers release of v

https://www.virus-biophysics.lu.se/node/137 - 2025-07-05

Herpes Simplex 1 pressurized DNA release into a cell nucleus. DNA packaging and capsid reinforcement  Illustration and poem inspired by graduate student Krista Freeman's contributions to “The Invisible Jazz Experimental Laboratories”, hosted by The Space Upstairs in Pittsburgh, PA."I've optimized my eyes to fill my brain with dissonance in a balance. The information is a bomb, every fact a potenti

https://www.virus-biophysics.lu.se/movies-artwork - 2025-07-05

Our Biophysical ToolsOur research group investigates mechanics of viral replication, virus-host interactions, virus assembly and disassembly within the host. Specifically, we investigate energetics, structure and mobility of the intra-capsid genome as well as mechanical properties of viral capsids, influenced by changes in physiological environment that are important for viral replication. Main to

https://www.virus-biophysics.lu.se/methods-and-techniques - 2025-07-05

  Principal Investigator: Alex Evilevitch, PhDProfessor of Cell Biology Email: Alex [dot] Evilevitch [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se   Lab photos  PUB night with the group, August 2023   Postdocs   José Ramón Villanueva Valencia, PhDEmail: jose_ramon [dot] villanueva-valencia [at] med [dot] lu [dot] se (jose_ramon[dot]villanueva-valencia[at]med[dot]lu[dot]se)    Santosh Gawali, PhD Email: santosh [dot]

https://www.virus-biophysics.lu.se/people - 2025-07-05

Alex Evilevitch Research Group We are always interested in reviewing applications from MSc students, prospective PhD students and postdocs.Project description  Herpesviruses are a leading cause of human viral disease. Herpesviruses consist of a double-stranded DNA genome contained within a protein shell, termed the capsid, that is surrounded by an unstructured protein layer and a lipid-envelope. H

https://www.virus-biophysics.lu.se/open-positions - 2025-07-05

https://www.virus-biophysics.lu.se/teaching - 2025-07-05

January 9, 2024 , Physics World "Viruses change structure at the temperature of the human body to better infect us". https://physicsworld.com/a/viruses-change-structure-at-the-temperature-of-the-human-body-to-better-infect-us/  November 8, 2023,  Lund University press release on our pioneering study published in PNAS showing how temperature triggers release of viral genome by changing the form and

https://www.virus-biophysics.lu.se/news-0 - 2025-07-05

To see Prof. Alex Evilevitch Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID), click the link below (it opens another website):https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0245-9574   Below, there is the full list of publication of Prof. Alex Evilevitch. It links to another webpage related to the publisher.Villanueva Valencia J. R.,  Li D.,  Casjens S. R.,  Evilevitch A., "‘SAXS-osmometer’ method provides measurement of

https://www.virus-biophysics.lu.se/publications - 2025-07-05

We use atomic force microscopy (AFM) nano-indentation method to measure DNA mobility in the capsid. The mobility of DNA packaged inside the HSV-1 capsid is measured by recording the force resisting the capsid indentation when the AFM tip is brought into contact with the DNA-filled capsid in solution. Force resisting the AFM tip indentation of the capsid is recorded as the force-distance curve. Cap

https://www.virus-biophysics.lu.se/methods-and-techniques/atomic-force-microscopy - 2025-07-05

We use cryo electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and image reconstruction to examine the virion structure at subnanometer resolution. We also analyze structure and density of viral DNA packaged in a capsid.  Figure: Cutaway views from cryo-EM reconstructions of (A) HSV-1 C-capsid and (B) phage lambda procapsid and mature DNA-filled lambda capsid. HSV-1 and lambda phage capsids are shown to scale. Owing t

https://www.virus-biophysics.lu.se/methods-and-techniques/cryo-electron-microscopy - 2025-07-05

The isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) provides the most direct method to measure the internal energy of the confined viral genome. In order to experimentally dissect the thermodynamic determinants of viral DNA packaging and ejection energetics, we were first to use ITC to directly measure the heat released by DNA ejection from a virus capsid. This approach allows one to address experimentally

https://www.virus-biophysics.lu.se/methods-and-techniques/microcalorimetry - 2025-07-05

Super-Resolution Structured Illumination Microscopy (SR-SIM) provides resolutions down to 120 nm, allowing visualization of individual herpesvirus capsids (HSV-1) attached to the nucleus (HSV-1 C-capsid diameter is 125 nm).  Figure: Imaging of reconstituted capsid-nuclei system confirms specific capsid binding to the NPCs at the nuclear membrane. Representative super-resolution SIM image showing G

https://www.virus-biophysics.lu.se/methods-and-techniques/super-resolution-and-single-particle-fluorescence-microscopy - 2025-07-05

Despite the structure of packaged viral DNA being central for ejection and consequentially infectivity of the virus, the detailed understanding of the packing structure of DNA inside the viral capsid. SAXS and SANS allow investigation of the structure of DNA filled capsids in solution in a wide range of environmental conditions. SAXS and SANS are powerful techniques that provides detailed structur

https://www.virus-biophysics.lu.se/methods-and-techniques/small-angle-x-ray-scattering-saxs-and-small-angle-neutron-scattering-sans-viral-genomes - 2025-07-05

For many double stranded (ds) DNA viruses the viral genome is actively packaged into the virus capsid by a powerful molecular motor. This results in an energetically unfavorable state of the packaged genome, creating tens of atmospheres internal pressure inside the virion. Using a new calorimetric assay to determine the activation energy barriers associated with genome loss in response to elevated

https://www.virus-biophysics.lu.se/covers-highlights - 2025-07-05

Följ det Vetenskapsrådsfinansierade forskningsprojektet ”Döden på Vipeholm – en undersökning om vården av ’osnygga obildbara sinnesslöa’ och möjlig medveten dödssvält”. Om projektet Under några av 1940-talets första år dog 200 av de patienter som bodde på Vipeholms sjukhus. Vad berodde det på, att så många dog under de här åren? Kan det ha handlat om eutanasi – vilket har framförts men aldrig lett

https://www.vipeholm.lu.se/vipeholm - 2025-07-05

Artikel av Kristina Engwall i Nordic Journal of Educational History”… äro absolut obildbara”: Barnen på Vipeholm 1935–1963DOI: https://doi.org/10.36368/njedh.v11i1.456Abstract: Hospital in Sweden was the only institution for the ’uneducated, difficult to care for feebleminded’. Although it was designed for adults, a fifth of those admitted were under the age of 15. The article focuses on the child

https://www.vipeholm.lu.se/om-projektet/publicerat - 2025-07-05

Elin Bommenel skriver om sjukhuschefen och överläkaren Hugo Fröderberg Under sitt långa yrkesliv fick Hugo Fröderberg (1897–1986) följa utvecklingen av vad som då kallades ”sinnesslövården”. För eftervärlden kom han att bli känd som sjukhuschef och överläkare på Vipeholms sjukhus – Europas största i sitt slag med plats för nästan 1000 ”svårskötta, obildbara sinnesslöa”. Hugo Fröderberg föddes i Bä

https://www.vipeholm.lu.se/vem-var-hugo-froderberg-och-vad-var-vipeholms-sjukhus - 2025-07-05